Shannon here: Christa MacDonald shares the inspiration for her latest Contemporary Romance, The Redemption Road (book 3 in her Sweet River Redemption series). Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for an e-copy of book 1 in the series, The Broken Trail. Deadline: Aug 11th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Christa:
The Real Life Love of Alex and Annie by Christa MacDonald:
Books are born as ideas, some tiny, some grand, but this one started with a mini-movie of sorts. I was working on a different book in the series and tearing my hair out, metaphorically, over a tricky scene. While taking a break, a scene popped in my head. I imagined a coffee/book shop on the main street of the fictional town in Maine that I had created for the book series. A petite woman with jet-black hair stood behind the counter, her eyes on a game warden sitting in the corner staring broodily out the front window. She was fussing with a cup of coffee and I knew that she was trying to think of a way to talk to him completely unaware that moments before he had been looking at her instead, thinking he needed to stay away from her for her own good.
Annie and Alex’s romance was a joy to write. She loves him through the tough stuff and it’s his love for her that keeps him on the road to redemption. God brings them
together and strengthens their faith together and it’s not without its pain for all its sweetness. These two might end up being my favorite of the series. Annie might be shy, but she’s no wallflower. Alex is a man with a past, but he’s
trying to be a good man atoning for that past. The two of them together are magic one moment, a mess the next. Just like real life.
If you pare it down to its bare details my own love story is pretty plain. A mutual friend saw that my husband and I would be good together so she waited until we were both unattached to introduce us, standard stuff. But there were emotional mountains and low valleys to conquer along with epic dates and a storybook wedding. Real-life love stories are book-worthy. In my writing I try to write stories that feel real, as if these characters could be your friends and neighbors. Sure there is some drama (threatening letters, a stalker, and deadly storms, oh my!) but in making it as real as possible, I hope it plays like a movie in the reader’s imagination. The best books always do, don’t you think?
About Christa: Christa MacDonald began her writing career at the age of eleven, filling a sketchbook with poems and short stories. While at Gordon College she traded the sketchbooks for floppy discs, publishing short personal narratives in the literary journal The Idiom. After graduation and traveling cross-country she settled down to focus first on her career in operations management and then her growing family.
When her children reached grade school Christa returned to her love of writing, finding the time between conference calls, dance lessons, and baseball games. When not at her desk working or writing, Christa can be found curled up in her favorite chair reading, out and about with her husband and kids, or in the garden. She lives with her family along the coast of Massachusetts in the converted barn they share with a dog and two formerly-feral cats. Learn more and connect:
Christa’s Website Christa’s Twitter Christa’s Goodreads Christa’s Facebook Christa’s Bookbub
About the book – Redemption Road:
It’s redemption that he needs, and she’ll pay any price to help him find it.
As the new game warden in Sweet River, Alex Moretti is focused on enforcing Maine’s wildlife laws and little else. Moving from tragedy to a fresh start, all he wants is a way to fix his life in the tranquility of the north woods. Until he meets Annie Caldwell at Coffee by the Book. But his own bitter, dark life is a threat to Annie’s sweetness and light. It’s better for him to stay away.
Annie doesn’t know how to label her relationship with Alex, but she is determined to figure it out. After a few false starts and a kiss under the Christmas lights, their romance goes from fiction to fact. Annie has fallen hard. Then trouble shows up. Someone is stalking Alex, seeking to punish him for a mistake which ended in deadly consequences. When Annie becomes a target, he tries to push her away, but she won’t abandon him. Alex is desperate to keep Annie safe while he attempts to reconcile the past, but what he really needs is redemption. And she will risk her life to help him find it.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now! Christa’s books – Amazon
Question for Readers: What’s your favorite real-life love story?
Come back Aug 7th for Gayla K. Hiss!
Shelia Hall says
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer; George and Grace Burns
Christa says
George and Grace Burns have a great story! I love them.
Candace West Posey says
This story sounds so good! My favorite real life romance is my parents. They are the perfect combination of best friends and soulmates. Thanks for the chance!
Christa says
Aw… That’s so sweet that your parents are your favorite story!
Joan Arning says
I have friends who were both widowed. My husband and I had been friends with both couples. One night I invited both of them over along with other people. Lee and Alice hit it off immediately. They have now been married about 24 years. She is 84 and he is 94. They have had a wonderful marriage!
Christa MacDonald says
What a lovely story!
kim hansen says
Prince William and Kate Milddleton
Christa MacDonald says
They’ve got a great story.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
My parents’ romance is my favorite story. Over 50 years and they still genuinely like and love each other.
Shannon Vannatter says
I have a winner! Jodi Stoddard won the drawing. I appreciate Christ for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.